Christopher Harrison Devlin, a convicted killer who was found dead in his cell, is appealing his case from the grave — at taxpayers' expense.

By Jennifer SullivanSeattle Times staff reporter9/29/11

A convicted killer who committed suicide four days after he was sentenced to life in prison is appealing his case from the grave — at taxpayers' expense.

Christopher Harrison Devlin, a 57-year-old long-haul truck driver, was convicted a year ago of killing a man who had been set to testify against him in an assault trial, and was sentenced to life in prison. Devlin's attorneys immediately appealed his conviction.

But on Sept. 20, 2010, Devlin was found dead of an overdose in his Spokane County Jail cell.

Despite his death, Devlin's attorneys and his sister, who had herself appointed trustee of his estate, are moving ahead with the appeal in hopes of clearing his name. They also insist the state should pay for it because Devlin was broke when he died.